Poor health outcomes for African Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, Native
Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders are apparent when comparing their health indicators against the rest of the U.S. population.

The Disability and Health Program (DHP) is funded by a three-year grant from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The goals of the program are to include Floridians of all ages
with disabilities in all of the Department of Health's programs and activities for health promotion,
disease prevention, wellness, and disaster preparedness.

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Zika Fever is a mild febrile illness caused by a mosquito-borne virus. It has been identified in several countries in Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Zika fever has also been reported in travelers returning to the U.S. and Florida. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Travel Advisory to impacted countries can be found here. Take protect yourself and your loved ones: Drain standing water, no matter how seemingly small, cover your skin with mosquito repellent or protective clothing and keep windows and doors covered with screens.

The Florida Department of Health, HIV/AIDS Section is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to implement the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS) System to monitor behaviors that place people at risk for HIV infection. NHBS is conducted in twenty U.S. metropolitan areas with high AIDS prevalence. NHBS involves a repeated, cross-sectional survey and voluntary HIV testing of populations at high risk for HIV infection: men who have sex with men (MSM), injection drug users (IDU), and heterosexuals at risk for HIV infection (HET). NHBS activities are implemented in rotating cycles so that data are collected from each risk group approximately once every three years; these study cycles are referred to as NHBS-MSM, NHBS-IDU, and NHBS-HET. The study provides data on 1) trends in sexual and drug-use risk behaviors, 2) HIV prevalence and incidence, 3) HIV testing patterns, and 4) the use and impact of prevention services. The overarching goal of NHBS is to help evaluate and direct local and national prevention efforts.

The section is collaborating with the CDC and the University of Miami to conduct NHBS in South Florida. The project is known locally as ACXION (Assessing Characteristics of population X In ON-going surveillance). Consenting participants complete an anonymous interview consisting of the core NHBS questionnaire and a local questionnaire tailored to South Florida. Local questions address topics such as crystal methamphetamine use, use of the Internet for high-risk behaviors, depression, and social support. Participants also receive anonymous HIV counseling and testing, as well as referrals to psychosocial and healthcare services.

NHBS-HET3 (2013):In Miami-Dade County, respondent-driven sampling (respondents refer peers to participate) was used to recruit a sample of 595 heterosexually active adults with lower socio-economic status (i.e. lower income or education). Findings from this study cycle are forthcoming.
NHBS-IDU3 (2012): In Miami-Dade County, respondent-driven sampling (respondents refer peers to participate) was used to recruit a total of 708 IDUs.See the links section below to view findings or for information on the methodology.

NHBS-MSM3 (2011): In Miami-Dade County, venue-based sampling was used to recruit a sample of 512 MSM attending venues frequented by MSM (e.g., clubs, bars, restaurants). See the links section below to view findings or for information on the methodology.

NHBS-HET2 (2010):In Miami-Dade County, respondent-driven sampling (respondents refer peers to participate) was used to recruit a sample of 577 heterosexually active adults with lower socio-economic status (i.e., lower income or education). See the links section below to view findings or for information on the methodology

NHBS-IDU2 (2009): In Miami-Dade County, respondent-driven sampling (respondents refer peers to participate) was used to recruit 963 IDUs, of whom 608 were eligible for participation. See the links section below to view findings or for information on the methodology.

NHBS-MSM2 (2008): In Miami-Dade County, venue-based sampling was used to recruit a sample of 527 MSM attending venues frequented by MSM (e.g., clubs, bars, restaurants). Broward County is no longer an eligible NHBS site due to new funding criteria. See the links section below to view findings or for information on the methodology.

NHBS-HET (2007): In Miami-Dade and Broward counties, venue-based sampling was used to recruit a sample of 1,224 heterosexually active adults from areas with high rates of poverty and HIV/AIDS. However, the vast majority of venues from which participants were recruited were not associated with HIV risk (e.g., grocery stores, Laundromats, beauty supply stores). See the links section below to view findings or for information on the methodology.

NHBS-IDU (2005–2006): In Miami-Dade and Broward counties, respondent-driven sampling (respondents refer peers to participate) was used to recruit a sample of 934 IDUs. See the links section below to view findings or for information on the methodology.

NHBS-MSM (2004-2005): In Miami-Dade and Broward counties, venue-based sampling was used to recruit a sample of 1,540 MSM attending venues frequented by MSM (e.g., clubs, bars, restaurants). See the links section below to view findings or for information on the methodology.